Pressurized medicinal foam applicator



May 9, 1967 M. E. BOWEN PRESSURIZED MEDICINAL FOAM APPLTCATOR Filed June2, 1964 Z4 J4 25 J? INVENTOR B /l//czx t". Bowen AT TO RN EY M. E. BOWEN3,389

PRESSURIZED MEDICINAL FOAM APPLICATOR May 9, 1967 Filed June 26, 1964 30ff- 5- BY @Mfzm /im .5M

AT TO RN EY United States Patent O 3,318,309 PRESSURIZED MEDICINAL FOAMAPPLICATOR Max E. Bowen, 30885 W. Six Mile Road, Livonia, Mich. 48152Filed June 26, 1964, Ser. No. 378,333 16 Claims. (Cl. 12S-225) Thisinvention relates to improvements in pressurized medicinal foamapplicator.

The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a container and applicator for pressurized medicinalfoam consisting of a tubular vial having a radially reduced portionintermediate its ends with an extension on one end and an outlet at theother end spaced from the restriction with a container portiontherebetween, a valve rod extending through said outlet and said reducedportion with an enlarged head at the outer end of said outlet, aflexible tube positioned around said rod tand sealed between said headand the edge of said outlet, a stop on the other end of said rod fromsaid head, a spring compressed between said stop and said reducedportion and within said tube to press said t-ube into sealing relationwith said reduced portion, a tubular dose chamber and probe sleevedslidably over said vial and having a discharge `opening engageable withsaid head yand extensible therefrom to dose receiving position, a doubleended cover having ends alternatively receivable in the extension ofsaid vial, and a valve rod actuating projection positioned off-centerlongitudinally of said cover land engageable with the end of said rod inone position of said cover and Yin spaced, non-contactable relation tosaid rod in the inverted position of the cover.

Second, to provide a container and applicator having the foregoingproperties in which said projection on said vial and said cover havecoacting radially outwardly projecting stops, and said vial and saidprobe having a seal therebetween at the outer end of the vial, saidprobe having a projection forming a grip at the inner end and said probehaving an inwardly turned flange around said discharge opening.

Third, to provide a container and dispenser havingthe foregoingproperties which can be charged with a medicine and foam forming gas bypressing said rod upwardly to break the seal at said head and introducethe medicine yand gas therethrough and in which said -probe may beextended on said vial to form a dose measuring chamber and said coverpressed in to release a dose of medicated foam into the chamber and thevial then pressed into the probe to dispense the dose of foam into abody cavity.

Fourth, to provide a container and dispenser having the foregoingproperties, the elements of which are inexpensive and easily assembledmaking it practical to merchandise the container with single d-oses ofmedication.

Fifth, to provide a modified form of the container and dispenser,especially useful for treating mastitis in cattle, in which the sametype of tubular vial, valve rod and seal are provided with a button onthe valve rod which also forms an abutment for the spring and in which adispensing nozzle having a tip smaller than the vial is fitted over theother end of the vial.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from aconsideration of the following description and claims. The drawings, ofwhich there is one sheet, show two highly practical forms of theinvention adapted for human use and one practical form adapted for useon cattle.

FIG. l is a side elevational view of a plural dose form of the containerin shipping or storage condition.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross sectional view through thecontainer in FIG. 1 in dose forming position.

3,318,309 Patented May 9, 1967 ICC FIG. 3 is a longitudinal crosssectional view of the container in dispensing position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross sectional view of a modifiedform of the container sized for a single dose storage and application.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross sectional view through amodified form of container and applicator designed for use with cattle.

The multi-dose `container and applicator shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 consistsof `a tubular vial 1 of glass or any pressure resistant material,preferably transparent. The vial yhas a radially reduced neck portion 2intermediate of its ends forming a `restriction and a seal seat. Thefront or lower end of the vial is thickened at 3 to for-m an outletopening at 4. The thickened portion also carries an external seal ring 5and the space between the thickened portion and the restriction forms apressure chamber 6. Rearwardly or upwardly from the reduced portion, thevial has a tubular extension 7 forming a guide for a cover 8 and achamber for a spring 9.

Positioned within. the vial is a valve rod 10 that may be of glass orany rigid material. The rod extends through the reduced portion 2 andhas an abutment 11 in the spring chambe-r. A rounded head 12 projectsinto the outlet opening 4. A sleeve 13 of flexible material such asrubber is positioned around the rod and preferably closed over therounded head 12. The double tapered coil spring 9 enters the upper endof the sleeve and abuts against the abutment 11 to press the sleeve intosealing engagement with the inside of the reduced portion 2 and to drawthe head 12 and sleeve 13 into sealing engagement with the outer edge ofthe outlet opening 4, the diameter of the head 12 plus twice thethickness of the sleeve 13 being greater than the diameter of theopening 4.

T he upper or outer extension 7 of the vial has an outturned rim 14which forms a grip and a stop for the external flange 15 formedintermediately of the ends of the cover 8. The cover has a transverseWall or projection 16 that is off-set longitudinally from the flange 15.When the cover 8 is in normal position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 forstorage or application of the medication respectively, the wall 16 willnot reach or contact the upper or rear end of the valve rod. When thecover is inverted as in FIG. 2 to form the dose charge, the cover andvial may Ibe gripped between the thumb and fingers with two fingersunder the rim 14 `and pressure on the cover will force the wall 16against the end of the rod 10, unseating the ball i". and the sealaround the opening 4.

Positioned slidably around the vial 1 and sealingly engaged with theseal 5 is a thin tubular dose and dispensing chamber 17 desirably formedof inexpensive plastic. The dose chamber 17 has an -outturned gripflange 1S at its upper or outer end and a discharge opening 19 in itsrounded lower end, desirably surrounded by an inturned rim 20 that seatsagainst the rubber sleeve 13 when flange 18 abuts the flange 14 on thevial. FIG. 1 shows the vial, dose chamber and cover as they will beshipped and stored.

The vial is easily filled by automatic machinery by placing it ininverted position and pressing the vial downV until a stop unseats thehead 4. A measured amount of suitable liquid medication and a charge ofa propellant and foaming gas are introduced through hollow needles andthe seal at the head closed and the needles withdrawn. The dose chamberand probe 17 and cover 8 are then applied and the unit packaged in asterile wrapper (not shown).

To use the container, the external probe and dose chamber is extendedand the cover is inverted as in FIG. 2. The cover ispressed in(preferably with the vial inverted and the probe uppermost) so that thegas forms and forces a dose of medicated foam indicated by the bubbles21. When the cover is released and the vial is righted, the remainingliquidstands at the liquid line 22 with gas thereabove. The dose chamberand probe indicatea full dose when full and the probe is desirablytransparent for this purpose. If the charge in the vial is defective orspent, the lack of proper dosage is immediately apparent and the unit isdiscarded.

To apply the dose of medicated foam, the cover is again-reversedorrighted as in FIG. 3 to avoid 'danger of the pressure in the vial frombeing released against delicate body tissues. The probe 17 is insertedas into vaginal` or rectaly openings of the body and the vial pushedinto the probe by grasping the flange 18 around the-probe between thefingers and pressing the cover with the thumb. This ejects or expels thefoam under safe pressure into the body. The arrows at 23 'in FIG. 3indicate the dispensing motion.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified form of thevial 1A adapted for single dosestorage and dispensing. The vial andy probe 17 arefof the same orsuitable length as in FIGS. 1 to 3 but the restriction 2A is movedcloser to the outlet end of the probe to provide a reduced pressurechamber 6A. The sleeve 13A is correspondingly shortenedand the abutment11 is moved down on valve rod A. Otherwise thesingle dose form operatesin theV same manner as the plural dose form.

FIG. 5 shows a modified form of container and applicator particularlyadapted for use in treating mastitis in cattle. Since mastitis is highlycontagious, the applicator is a single dose applicator that is discardedafter use. The vial 24 has its restriction 25 spaced the correctdistance from-the end opening 26 to form a single dose pressure chamber27. Valve rod 28 passes from the ball end 29 through the restriction toan applicator button 30fheld on the end of the rod by a snap or wedgegripper 31. The gripper forms the upper abutment for spring 32. Thelower or inner end of the spring presses the outer end of rubber sleeve34 into sealing engagement with the wall of the restriction 25. Thepressure chamber 27 is charged as in the first two forms of the conftainer and applicator.

Since the direct release of pressure into the teats of the cow is notVharmful, no dose chamberis necessary. Instead a plastic tip 35 having asoft narrow probe 36 of. the `desired size and length is fitted directlyover the discharge end of the vial, or the probe may be packed alongsideof: the vial to conserve space and be installed by the user.

It is a feature of the rst two forms of the container, that the plasticdose forming chamber collapsed over the vial Will meet and comply withregulations requiring a protective cover over pressurized glasscontainers during shipment. When the probe is extended for use, thepressurefin the container is almost immediately reduced,

l'or eliminated entirely in the single dose modification.

With the multiple dose form the protective shield of the probe. isreturned to position with each use.

In the multiple dose form, the probe may be provided with dose indiciamarks 37 which may be alinedwith the seal 5 to determine the size ofdose to bev administered.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A container and applicator for a foamed medication characterized by atubular pressure containing vial having an outlet opening in one endLand a restriction of reduced internaly diameter intermediate of itsends,

an extension on said vial at the other end from said restriction,

a valve rod extending through said vial with an enlarged head positionedexternally of said outlet open- 111g a sleeve of deformablestretchablematerial extending around said rod and through saidrestriction,

an abutment on said rod in said extension,

a spring coiled around said rod and 'compressed between said abutmentand said restriction and entering the end of said sleeve in saidrestriction to seal the sleeve to the vial,

deformable sealing material sealed between said head and the edge ofsaid outlet opening by the pressure of said spring,

a cap slidably mounted in said extension to press said rod and unsealsaid head and said sealing material from said vial,

a probe fitting over the end of said vial and around said head andhaving an end insertable into a body opening with a discharge openingthrough the end of the probe,

and a charge of foamable medicating liquid and propellant foaming gassealed in said vial between said head and said restriction.

2. A container and. applicator as defined in claim 1 in which said capis double ended to slide in obverse and reverse positions in saidextension and having an axially off-set` internal projection engageablewith said rod only in the reverse position of the cap in said extens1on.

3. A container and applicator as defined in claim 2 in which-saidsealing material and said sleeve are formed as an integral sleeve.

4. A container and applicator as defined in claim 3 in which saidvsleeve is closed over said head and the discharge opening in said probeseals against said sleeve in the retracted position of said probe.

5. A container and applicator-as defined in claim 3 in which said probeand said extension have outturned peripheral flanges at their outerends.

6. A container and applicator as defined in claim 1 in which said sleeveand said sealing material are formed as parts of an integral sleeveclosed over said head.

7. A container and applicator as defined in claim 1 in which said probeis a cylinder slidable over a substantial length of said vial with theend around the discharge opening rounded externally.

8. A container and applicator as defined in claim 7 in which said vialis long enough between said outlet opening and said restriction tocontain multiple doses of said liquid and said gas and said probe hasdose measuring indicia there-on near its outer end.

9. vA container and applicator asdefined in claim 1, in which saidprobehas an elongated tip of reduced cross section in which said dischargeopening is formed.

10. A pressurized medicinal foam container and applicator comprising,

a tubular glass vial having a reduced neck portion intermediate of itsends with a cylindrical extension and ared rim at one end and athickened Wall defining an outlet at the other end,

a valve rodvextending through said vial with an inwardly facing shoulderkpositioned in said extension and an enlarged ball end projecting beyondthe other end of said vial,

a tubeV of ydeformable material positioned around said rod and closedaround the end and sides `of said ball end in sealing engagement withthe edge of said outlet, said neck,

a double taper coil spring positioned around said rod lbetween saidshoulder and extending in expanding relation into said tube to seal the-tube to the inside of said neck,

a dose of medicinal material and foam forming gas under pressure in saidvial and around said tube,

a tubular dose receiving chamber and dispensing probe sleeved over saidother end of said vial with a dispensing opening in the front end havingan inwardly turned rim scalable against the end of said tube and saidball end,

an annular seal between said other end of said vial and said probe,

a flared ange forming a grip on the other end of said probe,

and a double ended reversible cap slidably mounted in said one end ofsaid vial with an intermediate external ange engageable with said oneend of said vial,

said cap having an axially olf-set inner wall engageable with the end ofsaid rod to depress the rod and open the seal at said ball end in oneposition of said cap and spaced from the end of said rod to preventopening the seal at said hall end in the inverted position of said capwith the external ange engaged with the end of the vial.

11. A pressurized medicinal foam container and applicator comprising,

a tubular vial having a reduced neck portion intermediate of its endswith an extension at one end and an outlet at the other end,

a valve rod extending through said vial with an inwardly facing shoulderpositioned in said extension and an enlarged ball end projecting beyondthe other end of said vial,

a tube of deformable material positioned around said rod and closedaround the end and sides of said ball end in sealing engagement with theedge of said outlet,

said tube extending through the reduced portion of said neck,

a double taper coil spring positioned around said rod between saidshoulder and extending in expanding relation into said tube to seal thetube to the inside of said neck,

a dose of medicinal material and foam forming gas under pressure in saidvial and around said tube,

a tubular dose receiving chamber and dispensing probe sleeved over saidother end of said vial with a dispensing opening in the front endsealable against the end of said tube and said ball end,

a grip on the other end of said probe,

and a double ended reversible cap slidably mounted in said one end ofsaid vial with an intermediate external flange engageable with said oneend of said vial, v

said cap having an axially olf-set inner projection engageable with theend of said rod to depress the rod and open the seal at said ball end inone position of said cap and spaced from the end of said rod to preventopening the seal at said ball end in the inverted position of said capwith the external flange engaged with the end of the vial.

12. A pressurized medicinal foam container and applicator comprising,

a tubular glass Vial having a reduced neck portion intermediate of itsends with a cylindrical extension and llared rim at one end and aradially reduced inner wall delining an outlet at the other end,

a valve rod extending through said vial with an inwardly facing shoulderpositioned in said extension and an enlarged end projecting beyond theother end of said vial,

a tube of deformable material positioned around said rod and closedaround the end and sides of said enlarged end in sealing engagement withthe edge of said outlet,

said tube extending through the reduced portion of said neck,

a double taper coil spring positioned around said rod between saidshoulder and extending in expanding relation into said tube to seal the.tube to the inside of said neck,

a dose of medicinal material and foam forming gas under pressure in saidVial and aro-und said tube,

a tubular dose receiving chamber and dispensing probe sleeved over saidother end of said vial `with a dispensing opening in the front endhaving an inwardly turned rim sealable against the end of said tube andsaid enlarged end,

means forming a grip on the other end of said probe,

and a double ended reversible cap slidably and telescopically mountedwith said one end of said vial with an intermediate flange engageablewith said one end of said vial,

said cap having an axially olf-set inner wall engageable with the end ofsaid rod to depress the rod and open the seal at said enlarged end inone position of said cap and spaced from the end of said rod to preventopening the seal at said enlarged end in the inverted position of saidcap with the llange engaged with the end of the vial. y

13. A pressurized medicinal foam container and applicator comprising,

a tubular glass Vial having a reduced neck portion intermediate of itsends with a cylindrical extension at one end and a radially reducedinner wall defining an outlet at the other end,

a valve rod extending through said vial with an inwardly facing shoulderpositioned in said extension and an enlarged end projecting beyond theother end of said vial,

a tube of deformable material positioned around said rod and sides ofsaid enlarged end in sealing engagement with the edge of said outlet,

said tube extending through the reduced portion of said neck,

a coil spring positioned around said rod between said shoulder andextending in expanding relation into said tube to seal the tube to theinside of said neck,

a dose of medicinal material and foam forming gas under pressure in saidvial and around said tube,

a tubular dose receiving chamber and dispensing probe sleeved over saidother end of said vial with a dispensing opening in the front end havingan inwardly turned rim scalable against the end of said tu'be and saidenlarged end,

and a double ended reversible cap slidably and telescopically mountedwith said one end of said vial with an intermediate liange engageablewith said one en-d of said vial,

said cap having an axially off-set inner wall engageable with the end ofsaid rod to depress the rod and open the seal at said enlarged end inone position of said cap and spaced from the end of said rod to preventopening the seal at said enlarged end in the inverted position of saidcap with the ange engaged with the end of the vial.

14. A pressurized medicinal foam container and applicator comprising,

a tubular vial having a reduced neck portion intermediate of its endswith an extension at one end and an Outlet at the other end,

a valve rod extending through said vial with an inwardly facing shoulderpositioned in said extension and an enlarged end projecting beyond theother end of said vial,

deformable means on said enlarged end in sealing engagement with theedge of said outlet,

expandable means on said rod-extending through the reduced portion ofsaid neck,

a coil spring positioned around said rod between said shoulder and vialand extending in expanding relation -into said expandable means to sealthe rod to the inside of said neck,

a dose of medicinal material and foam forming gas under pressure in saidvial and around said rod, a dose receiving chamber and dispensing probesleeved over said other end of said vial with a dispensing opening inthe front end,

a grip on the other end of said probe,

and a ydouble ended reversible cap slidably mounted in telescopicrelation to said one end of said vial with an intermediateprojectionfengageable with said one end of said vial,

said cap having an axially off-set inner projection engagealble with theend lof said rod to depress the rod and open the seal at` said enlargedend in one position of said cap and spaced from the end of said rod to-prevent opening the seal at said enlarged end in the inverted positionof said cap with the intermediate projection engaged with the end of thevial.

15. A pressurized medicinal foam container and applicator comprising,

a tubular vial having a reduced neck portion intermediate of its endswith an extension at one end and an outlet at the other end,

a valve rod extending through said vial with an inwardly facing shoulderpositioned in said extension and an enlarged end projecting -beyond theother end of said vial,

deformable means on said enlarged end in sealing engagement with theedge of said outlet,

deformable means on said rod adjacent the reduced portion ofl said neck,a coil spring positioned around said rod between said shoulder and vialand pressing said deformable means to seal the rod to the inside of saidneck,

a dose of medicinal material and foam forming gas undery pressure insaid vial and around said rod,

a tubular dose receiving chamber and dispensing probe sleeved over saidother end of said vial with a ydispensing opening in the front end,

and a ydouble endedreversible cap slidably mounted .in telescopicrelation to said one end of said vial with an intermediate projectionengageable with said one end of said vial,

said cap lhaving an axially off-set inner projection engageable with thelend of said rod to depress the rod and open the seal at said enlargedend in one position of said cap and spaced from the end of said rod toprevent opening the seal at said enlarged end in the inverted positionof said cap with the intermediate projection engaged with the end of thevial.

16. A container and applicator for a foamed medication characterized bya tubular pressure containing vial having an outlet opening in one endand a restriction of reduced internal diameter intermediate of its ends,

an extension on said vial at the other end from said restriction,

a valve rod extending through said vial with an enlarged head positionedexternally of said outlet openmg,

a sleeve of deformable stretchable material extending around said headon said rod and through said restriction, said sleeve and head sealingthe edge of said outlet opening,

a Ibutton on said rod forming an abutment in said eX- tension andprojecting from the extension,

a spring coiled around said rod and compressed between said abutment andsaid restriction and entering the end of said sleeve in said restrictionto seal the sleeve to the vial,

a tubular probe fitting over the one end of said vial and around saidhead and having an end of radially reduced size insertable into a bodyopening with a discharge opening through the end of the probe,

and a charge of foamable medicating liquid and propellant foaming gassealed in said vial between said head and said restriction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,686,188 10/1928Tipton. 1,719,163 7/1929 Bergl 12S- 224 2,746,797 5/ 1956 lRemane239-337 2,945,494. 7/ 1960 Bowen 12S-248 3,275,000 9/1966 Bowen 12S-272RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

R. L. FRINKS, Assistant Examiner.

1. A CONTAINER AND APPLICATOR FOR A FOAMED MEDICATION CHARACTERIZED BY ATUBULAR PRESSURE CONTAINING VIAL HAVING AN OUTLET OPENING IN ONE END ANDA RESTRICTION OF REDUCED INTERNAL DIAMETER INTERMEDIATE OF ITS ENDS, ANEXTENSION ON SAID VIAL AT THE OTHER END FROM SAID RESTRICTION, A VALVEROD EXTENDING THROUGH SAID VIAL WITH AN ENLARGED HEAD POSITIONEDEXTERNALLY OF SAID OUTLET OPENING, A SLEEVE OF DEFORMABLE STRETCHABLEMATERIAL EXTENDING AROUND SAID ROD AND THROUGH SAID RESTRICTION, ANABUTMENT ON SAID ROD IN SAID EXTENSION, A SPRING COILED AROUND SAID RODAND COMPRESSED BETWEEN SAID ABUTMENT AND SAID RESTRICTION AND ENTERINGTHE END OF SAID SLEEVE IN SAIDD RESTRICTION TO SEAL THE SLEEVE TO THEVIAL,